Team news: Reading vs Derby

Vital Reading takes a look at some early team news from our game with Derby on Saturday.

Late fitness tests could be given to the duo of Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Williams, who have missed our previous two outings due to injury. The latter had a large swelling on his knee in midweek, so would probably be the less likely of the two to make the side.

Our defensive duo of Sean Morrison and Wayne Bridge are getting closer to a return, but this game comes too early for them. The long-term absentees remain Mikele Leigertwood, Jem Karacan and Jason Roberts, who is yet to officially retire from playing.

Steve McClaren has a fairly short injury list at Derby, with midfielder Paul Coutts being the only short-term injury problem for the Rams. Captain Shaun Barker has not played any football in nearly two years and is no closer, so obviously won’t be available.